Ammonium Chloride and Pregnancy: Is it Safe?

✅ Use

Ammonium chloride is used as:

• An expectorant (to loosen mucus in coughs)
• A urinary acidifier
• A component in intravenous solutions (rare)

❌ Risks in Pregnancy

• No well-controlled studies in pregnant women
• In high doses, it may cause:
  • Metabolic acidosis
  • Electrolyte imbalance
  • Risk of fetal distress due to acid-base imbalance
• Animal studies are limited and inconclusive

🧪 FDA Pregnancy Category

Ammonium chloride is not assigned a formal FDA pregnancy category, but caution is advised.

👶 Recommendation

• Use only if clearly needed and the benefits outweigh the risks
• Avoid self-medication
• Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist before use

📌 Summary

Criteria	Status
Safe for self-use in pregnancy	❌ Not recommended
Can be prescribed	✅ With medical supervision
Known fetal harm	⚠️ Possible with high doses or long use
Safer alternatives	✅ Yes — e.g., saline, steam inhalation for coughs